NFL to host women’s career development event in Phoenix

Arizona Cardinals tight end Jermaine Gresham carries the ball after a catching a pass against the Seattle Seahawks in the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

PHOENIX — The NFL will host its second-ever symposium in Phoenix on Friday and Saturday to help develop the skills of women working in the sport.

“We want the participants to leave feeling like they have a stronger football acumen than when they came,” Samantha Rapoport, the league’s director of football development, said.

“We want to connect them with each other, connect them with NFL club executives, and connect them with NFL league office executives.”

The league said it invited nearly 40 high-performing women already working within the league and in college programs to attend the two-day event at the Arizona Biltmore.

“We want to develop the participants’ football acumen and so we’ll be executing some lectures on the salary cap, roster management and player evaluation,” Rapoport said.

“We really want the participants to leave with a greater understanding of how clubs operate on the football side and how football decisions are made from the owner, head coach and general manager perspective.”

Rapoport said one unique aspect to this program is that organizers are bringing the participants in the NFL Pro Player Combine at the Cardinals’ facility.

“The participants will have an opportunity to learn about player evaluation and the scouting process first-hand,” she said.

Among the speakers and presenters will be Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill, Cincinnati Bengals Executive Vice President Katie Blackburn and Los Angeles Chargers President of Football Operations John Spanos.